Town Square

The Dinner a novel by Herman Koch

Original post made
by Bookworm, Menlo Park: Sharon Heights,
on Jun 13, 2013

This book has been described as "An internationally bestselling phenomenon: the darkly suspenseful, highly controversial tale of two families struggling to make the hardest decision of their lives--all over the course of one meal."

It is written by a Dutch man and has been translated into English.

Publishers Weekly said in a starred review:

"This chilling novel starts out as a witty look at contemporary manners…before turning into a take-no-prisoners psychological thriller…With dark humor, Koch dramatizes the lengths to which people will go to preserve a comfortable way of life…this is a cunningly crafted thriller that will never allow you to look at a serviette in the same way again."

My favorite part of the book is on page 255

"The principal was probably against global warming and injustice in general. Perhaps he didn't eat the flesh of mammals or was anti-American or, in any case, anti Bush: the latter stance gave people carte blanche not to think about anything anymore. Anyone who was against Bush had his heart in the right place and could behave like a boorish asshole toward anyone around him."

Pretty much sums up the Menlo Park Move-on.org crowd and a few former Menlo Park mayors.

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